MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- From Oct. 19 - 23, the station will recognize and participate in Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is the largest and oldest drugprevention campaign in the United States.
Red Ribbon Week began after the kidnapping, torture and brutal murder of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985.
On Feb. 7, 1985, he was kidnapped in broad daylight on a street in Guadalajara, Mexico, and was tortured and beat to death soon after.
Camarena enlisted in the Marines in 1972 and spent two years in the Corps before joining the DEA.
The nationwide “Red Ribbon Campaign,” which teaches school kids to avoid drug use, was started in his memory.
“This year we are coming together as one to make a difference,” said Erica Ramos, risk reduction assistant here. “It’s our third annual year having the Red Ribbon anti-drug campaign here at MCAS Iwakuni.”
The first event will be the distribution of red ribbons by counseling staff members at the main gate here Monday. Wear your red ribbon for the week in support of a drugfree lifestyle.
“We are going to have a lot of different events going on through the week to provide outreach and prevention and education for the Marines in the community,” said Ramos.
Along with passing out red ribbons, there will also be live radio interviews regarding various drug and alcohol-related subjects by guest speakers.
“The Provost Marshal’s Office is actually getting involved because it’s crime prevention month, so we are trying to do Corps-related services for the community,” said Ramos.
On Wednesday, American Forces Network is scheduled to conduct a live radio show at the Crossroads Mall to get the community involved and also allow the community to express their opinions over the station’s radio station.
“We are going to be out there for patrons to utilize the drunken goggles and walk the line to see how their judgment and reaction time (are) impaired when using alcohol,” said Ramos.
At the end of the week, there is the 3rd Annual Red Ribbon Fun Run scheduled to kick-off noon Friday at the parade deck.
Last year there were about 500 participants who took part in the run. The run is open to all service members and station community members. Participants can walk or run the course.
The run has been increased from one and a half miles to a 5K run due to a few complaints last year that it was too short.
“We have a lot of different events. We are going to be at the main gates passing out flyers and red ribbons two days out of the week,” said Ramos. “People can wear their red ribbon to show their pledge or commitment to a drug-free lifestyle, or they can wear red during the week.”
For additional information on the Red Ribbon Week or how to volunteer, call Marine and Family Services at 253-3779.